San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Which is the better fit for you?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,645,029 | 12,974,487 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $136,027 | $95,958 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $74,352 | $47,931 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,881/sq mi | 2,673/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,140,700 | $871,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,474 | $2,063 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.5% | 48.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.9% | 38.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 12.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 8,350 | 34,233 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 29.7% | 31.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 72°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 49°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 18.7" | 14.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.7 min | 32.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.3 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Full profiles: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metro Area · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology